April 15, 2019
Final Leadership Summit of the Year
Thanks to everyone who joined us in Ypsilanti this weekend for our final Leadership Summit of the year. In addition to great workshops, we had robust discussions about how we move forward in creating more equitable and effective education funding systems in Michigan (at the K-12 and Higher Ed levels) and several locals in the LEAD program returned on Sunday to continue working on their strategic plans. Mark your calendars: our next statewide event is tentatively scheduled for September 28-29, 2019, at UM-Dearborn — we’ll send out a full calendar when it is finalized.
Bills to Reduce Student Growth Percentage in Teacher, Admin Evaluation Pass Senate
Senate Bills 122 and 202, sponsored by Sen. Ken Horn, unanimously passed the Michigan Senate last Wednesday. Under the bills, the percentage of student growth used to determine teacher and administrator evaluation scores would remain at 25 percent. Under current law, the student growth percentage is set to increase to 40 percent at the end of this school year. Originally, the bills would have kept the percentage at 25 indefinitely, however, the bill was amended to only apply to this school year. The goal is to send these bills to the governor’s desk for signature by May.
Help a Retired Teacher Save Her Home
Join us at 12:00 pm, Wednesday, April 17, at the Michigan First Credit Union, 5057 Woodward (Maccabees Building) to call on Michigan First to work with Ms. Halliburton so that she will be able to keep her home. Halliburton is a 73 year-old retired Detroit teacher.
2019 Rollie Hopgood Future Teachers Scholarship Award Applications Now Available Online!
AFT Michigan has three eligibility categories of the “Rollie Hopgood Future Teachers Scholarship Award” for individuals whose future goal is to become a teacher.
The categories are:
1. Graduating senior of an AFT Michigan high school with the goal of becoming a teacher;
2. AFT Michigan PSRP
dues paying member enrolled (full- or part-time) in a teacher certification program at a college or university; and
3. AFT Michigan
dues paying member’s son(s) and/or daughter(s) who is a graduating senior with the goal of becoming a teacher.
Click here to download the applications. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Linda Moore at tftlindamoore@gmail.com.
Upcoming Professional Development
Culturally Responsive Pedagogy PreK-14 Workshop
Saturday, May 4, 2019
8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
AFT Michigan Office
This in-service will establish the connection between culture and learning, and explore research-based strategies, such as cultural competency, high expectations and critical consciousness.
Click here to register https://aftmichigan.org/events/professional-development-events/#aft-michigan-professional-development/view-actions-details5/5b9ab29c36432c2c3e8d6640/
Upcoming Online AFT Professional Learning Opportunities
Breaking the Myths of International Comparisons
Wednesday, April 24, at 4 p.m. EDT
Have education research data ever seemed to be inapplicable or even incomprehensible? This webinar provides participants with a straightforward assessment of the complex international comparisons we often run into, making them more digestible by connecting them to real-life stories from educators worldwide. Join us to learn the difference between fact and fiction as we conduct a deep dive into U.S. education and the international comparisons that drive our policy decisions. Register now.
In Solidarity,
David Hecker
President
